In this compelling piece, Katharina Reinthaller, Co-Director of Voila! Europe Theatre Festival, explores the profound emotional and political power of performing in one’s native language. She reflects on how reclaiming linguistic identity on stage can restore visibility, dignity, and a sense of belonging for artists who often feel sidelined in an English-centric arts world. Her insights offer a passionate call to honour multilingual voices and the rich cultural perspectives they bring to the theatre. Servus. Hello. Buenas. Salut! سلام These are the languages I speak, in order of fluency. Starting with German, or more particularly ‘Wienerisch’ (Viennese), my mother tongue,…
Author: The Reviews Hub
The Reviews Hub
The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.
Sam Danson is a Manchester-based writer, performer, and producer whose work shines a light on under-represented stories through the lens of comedy. His debut solo show, BI-TOPIA, toured nationally from 2023 to 2025, offering an autobiographical exploration of his coming out journey as a bisexual man. Building on that success, Sam’s latest project, Daddy’s First Gay Date, takes a more fictional approach while continuing his commitment to amplifying diverse voices and experiences on stage. Stories that centre around queer characters are really important for a number of reasons; they allow others to feel seen and represented, they also raise awareness…
Countess Dracula is a daring new piece featuring Joanna Holden (Told by an Idiot, Cirque du Soleil) and Jack Kelly. Through the figure of the Countess, it explores the lived experience of menopause with humour, honesty and theatrical flair. Blending horror, satire and love story, it challenges how society views ageing women. Joanna Holden is a highly regarded performer with over twenty-five years of experience as an actor, director and clown. Born in Scunthorpe, she has worked worldwide while staying true to her northern roots. She has collaborated with Told By An Idiot, John Wright and leading directors including Roxana…
On 3 October, celebrated as ‘Mean Girls Day’, producers Lorne Michaels, Crossroads Live and Sonia Friedman Productions revealed the initial casting and full tour schedule for the 2026–2027 UK and Ireland tour of Mean Girls The Musical. The award-winning show will open at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026 and travel to venues across the region until the end of January 2027. Emily Lane will lead the cast as Cady Heron, joined by Vivian Panka as Regina George, Sophie Pourret as Karen Smith, Georgie Buckland as Janis Sarkisian, Max Gill as Damian Hubbard, Karim Zeroual as Kevin Ganatra and…
The hit Broadway comedy Oh, Mary! is set to make its West End debut at the Trafalgar Theatre, with performances running from 3 December 2025 to 25 April 2026. Tickets will be available from 12pm and are expected to sell quickly following the show’s success in New York. Written by 2025 Tony Award winner Cole Escola and directed by fellow Tony recipient Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! opened at the Lyceum Theatre on 11 July 2024. It became the first production of the 2024/25 Broadway season to recoup its investment, cementing its place as a standout comedy. Leading the cast is…
The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions have announced a major UK tour of the Chichester Festival Theatre’s acclaimed production of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, adapted from John le Carré’s iconic Cold War thriller. The tour opens at Leicester Curve on 12 March 2026 and will run through to August, visiting 21 venues nationwide. Tickets will be available soon via spyonstage.com/tour. This marks the first time le Carré’s debut novel has been adapted for the stage. David Eldridge, known for Festen and End, brings the espionage tale to life under the direction of Jeremy Herrin, whose…
Disney Theatrical Group and Disney Music Group/Walt Disney Records have officially announced the release of the Hercules Original London Cast Recording, celebrating the hit West End musical inspired by the beloved 1997 animated film. The album will be available for digital download and streaming from 10 October, followed by CD release on 21 November and vinyl on 5 December. Featuring iconic songs such as ‘Go the Distance’, ‘Zero to Hero’ and ‘I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)’, the album also includes seven brand-new tracks written by Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel, created specifically for the stage adaptation. The recording…
The producers of The Choir of Man, the Olivier Award-nominated musical sensation, have announced the show’s inaugural UK tour, set to begin in spring 2026. Following its phenomenal success in London’s West End, the production will open at New Wimbledon Theatre on Saturday 14 March and travel nationwide until 5 December. Described as the best night out at your local pub, The Choir of Man features nine talented performers who blend stunning harmonies, energetic tap dance, and heartfelt storytelling. Audiences can expect chart-topping hits from artists including Queen, Adele, Sia, Paul Simon and Avicii, all wrapped in a feel-good celebration…